Cabin in the Sky

1943

Cabin in the Sky (1943)

TOMATOMETER

82%

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Critic Consensus: No consensus yet.

AUDIENCE SCORE

83%

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Movie Info

Mortally shot at a crap game, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson gets a six-month Heavenly reprieve thanks to prayers from wife and True Believer Ethel Waters, but Rex Ingram's "Lucifer Jr." has a secret weapon in the ensuing battle for Anderson's soul: Lena Horne's sultry Sweet Georgia Brown. But Ethel proves to have "everything you've got and whole lot more." Minnelli's first major movie musical features some of the top African American talent of the day, including John Bubbles, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington and His Orchestra. But it's above all a showcase for top-billed Waters' enormous singing, dancing, comedy, and acting talents. -- (C) Film Forum

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Cast

Ethel Waters
as Petunia Jackson
Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson
as Little Joe Jackson
Lena Horne
as Georgia Brown
Louis Armstrong
as The Trumpeter
Rex Ingram
as Lucius/Lucifer Jr.
Kenneth Spencer
as Rev. Green, the General
John "Bubbles" Sublett
as Domino
Oscar Polk
as The Deacon/Flatfoot
Mantan Moreland
as First Idea Man
Willie Best
as Second Idea Man
Fletcher Rivers
as Third Idea Man, Moke
Leon James
as Fourth Idea Man, Poke
William Norton Bailey
as Bill
Ford L. Washington
as Messenger Boy
Ford L. 'Buck' Washington
as Messenger Boy
Butterfly McQueen
as Lily
Ruby Dandridge
as Mrs. Kelso
Stewart Nicodemus
as Dude
Ernest Whitman
as Jim Henry
Duke Ellington
Archie Savage
as Dancer
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Critic Reviews for Cabin in the Sky

All Critics (11)

...a suspect morality tale, yet once the performers grab ahold of the music, all that falls by the wayside.

Feb 25, 2018 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review…
LarsenOnFilm

Lustrous, gospel-folklore retelling of Faust

Oct 21, 2009 | Full Review…
CinePassion

Fascinatingly stylized musical.

Jul 18, 2009 | Full Review…
Classic Film and Television

All-black 1943 musical and moralistic fable.

Jan 15, 2007 | Rating: C+ | Full Review…
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Minnelli's feature debut was MGM's first all-black musical since Vidor's Hallellujah!, a stylized fable boasting great performances from Lena Horne, in her first major role, and Ethel waters, as her nemesis.

Jun 22, 2006 | Rating: B | Full Review…
EmanuelLevy.Com

Vincente Minnelli's enjoyable directorial debut.

Feb 16, 2006 | Full Review…
Combustible Celluloid
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Audience Reviews for Cabin in the Sky

If you like musicals and stories about heaven and hell, this film will be something to experience.

Linda K. T.
Linda K. T.

Super Reviewer

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